Angularly resolved Thomson scattering is a novel extension of Thomson scattering, enabling the measurement of the electron velocity distribution function over many orders of magnitude. Here, details of the theoretical basis of the technique and the instrument designed for this measurement are described. Angularly resolved Thomson-scattering data from several experiments are shown with descriptions of the corresponding distribution functions. A reduced model describing the distribution function is given and used to perform a Monte Carlo analysis of the uncertainty in the measurements. The electron density and temperature were determined to a precision of 12% and 21%, respectively, on average, while all other parameters defining the distribution function were generally determined to better than 20%. It was found that these uncertainties were primarily due to limited signal to noise and instrumental effects. Measurements with this level of precision were sufficient to distinguish between Maxwellian and non-Maxwellian distribution functions.
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August 2021
Research Article|
August 02 2021
Statistical analysis of non-Maxwellian electron distribution functions measured with angularly resolved Thomson scattering
Special Collection:
Papers from the 62nd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics
A. L. Milder
;
1
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
, 250 E. River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA
2
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester
, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
b)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: amild@lle.rochester.edu
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J. Katz
;
J. Katz
1
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
, 250 E. River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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R. Boni;
R. Boni
1
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
, 250 E. River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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J. P. Palastro
;
J. P. Palastro
1
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
, 250 E. River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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M. Sherlock;
M. Sherlock
3
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
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W. Rozmus;
W. Rozmus
4
Department of Physics, University of Alberta
, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
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D. H. Froula
D. H. Froula
1
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
, 250 E. River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA
2
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester
, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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a)
Invited speaker.
b)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: amild@lle.rochester.edu
Note: This paper is part of the Special Collection: Papers from the 62nd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics.
Note: Paper BI1 5, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 65 (2020).
Phys. Plasmas 28, 082102 (2021)
Article history
Received:
December 23 2020
Accepted:
July 08 2021
Citation
A. L. Milder, J. Katz, R. Boni, J. P. Palastro, M. Sherlock, W. Rozmus, D. H. Froula; Statistical analysis of non-Maxwellian electron distribution functions measured with angularly resolved Thomson scattering. Phys. Plasmas 1 August 2021; 28 (8): 082102. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0041504
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